A BIM-oriented tool to evaluate indoor TVOC-concentration compliance

Abstract

The average human spends about 90 % of their life indoors. This has led to an increased focus on IAQ including TVOC concentrations, as the latter can be up to ten times higher indoors than outdoors. Sources of TVOC must be identified and measured so that measures can be taken to ensure good IAQ. This study has researched the use of BIM for calculation of the indoor TVOC concentrations and developed an add-in in Autodesk Revit for this purpose. There are few earlier studies that have used BIM to assess TVOC concentration despite the number of analytical models developed for determining emissions and concentrations. Environmental building standards and labelling schemes have requirements for emission levels which give the manufacturers an incentive to perform tests and provide documentation. The add-in used static TVOC concentration calculation and emission data from building materials to perform a calculation in the Revit environment. This has shown to be a simple method, but there is also a need for further development of the program to make this calculation manageable and simple to use for architects and engineers.